20 October 2012

Sepia Saturday 148: Boys and Their Toys

Other than the bicycles, this card sums up Dr. Charles 'Charlie' W. Stratton II's favorite leisure activities. The card was found in Charlie's 1903 Diary. An avid hunter and fisherman, Charlie wrote of his adventures in his diaries. In 1903, his hunting and fishing trips were few in number as the bulk of his attention was on his studies at Albany Medical School:

Home to night at eleven Sweet with me. Find things in partly good shape at home. Am glad to get here. Hate to go to bed but must if I am going shooting. [Friday, October 30, 1903, Charles W. Stratton II (1876-1945) diary.]

An avid outdoorsman, why wasn't Charlie part of the bicycling craze of the early 1900s? The bicycle photographed below was Charlie's Christmas present in 1885. Before the snow could melt, Charlie's father passed away. He never rode the bike, retiring it to a shed that ever-after was memorialized as the 'bike barn.' Nearly 100 years later, Dr. Charles 'Jim' Stratton III (1918-1996) ensured the bike's pedals turned, giving it to a performing troop in the late 1900s.

Two more generations of Strattons, Emma and Jim, add a fresh coat of paint to the now vacant bike barn. Is it just the mustache? Or is there a familial resemblance between Charlie's grandson and the mystery man below. The photograph was found in family collection with no identification.

Unknown Gentleman with a Bicycle

This photograph prominently displays a more modern bike complete with a chain drive and, it appears, tube tires. Could this bicycle be related to the Schoverling, Daly & Gales card? Perhaps the bicycle was a Christmas gift for a relative purchased from Schoverling? There were bikes of this design in 1903.... Sadly no mention is made of the bicycle or Schoverling in Charlie's diary.

A gun, two bicycles and true mystery men (undercover police?) have prompted this spin back in time. For more, see Sepia Saturday 148. Any help identifying my mystery man or dating the photograph is appreciated!

Schoverling, Daly and Gales card. MS. New York, New York. Stratton Family Papers. Privately held by Liz Stratton [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Cincinnati, Ohio, 2012. The card was located the pocket of Charles W. Stratton II's 1903 diary. Liz Stratton is the wife of Charles' grandson.

Just read your entry and followed the link to your earlier bicycle entry. I almost used that same shot of the two men in bowlers on their penny farthings! Glad I ended up going a different direction with the theme. :)

A great pickup on the theme photo, Liz. Cycling was such an important part of late 19th early 20th century life, faster and more convenient than a horse or even an automobile. That last photo is a prizewinner, but why did the photographer insist on including the traditional fur rug?

A nice set of pictures Liz, but strangely I find the one of the grandchildren painting the bike barn the most interesting. Such industry! I'm assuming the grandson survived perching precariously on that picnic chair to do his painting?

BTW you may not be aware but you stil have word verification switched on and it can put people off commenting. Most of us have done away with it now with no ill effects.

I love how the bike barn name has come down through the generations, it certainly being kept tip top condition. I wonder if the man with the bike (and rug) is a member of a bicycling club, he looks the part and has something in his lapel, badge or ribbon.

@Kat,I think both the association and young Charles schedule must have kept him away from the bike. On the death of his father, the house was converted to a Boarding House and Charles took on many new chores.